Your
ferret's skin is its largest organ -- learn how to keep it healthy.

by Erika Matulich,
Ph.D.

Volume 1, Number 5

September / October
1998

Note:

These articles and images are
copyrighted and may not be reprinted, re-used, reposted, copied, or
otherwise distributed without permission from the author and
publisher.

Disclaimer:
You should not rely on the veterinary advice or information provided on
this site for diagnosis or treatment of any specific situation. Always
consult your own veterinarian for specific advice concerning the medical
condition or treatment of your own pet or animal.

Your Ferretís Skin

The skin is the largest organ of the
ferretís body. The skinís most important function is to protect
internal organs from injury and infection invasion. The skin is also a
sensory organ that is sensitive to touch, temperature, pain, pressure,
and itching. Ferret skin also plays a role in keeping body temperature
constant.

Skin Structure

As with most mammals, the ferretís
skin is made up of several layers. The thin, outer layer is called the
epidermis. The outermost part of the epidermis is made up of dead skin
cells, which form a tough, protective coating. These dead cells wear
away and are constantly replaced by new ones from the inner part of
the epidermis. The epidermis is thicker on males than on females, and
gets thinner as ferrets get older.

The second layer of the skin is the
dermis, which is a thicker inner layer. The dermis is made up of
connective tissue that also contains hair follicles, blood vessels,
lymph vessels, and nerves. The dermis also contains sebaceous glands
that product an oily substance called sebum. Ferrets have very active
sebaceous glands, which are a major determinant of body odor.

Thick-Skinned Ferrets

Ferret skin is amazingly thick. When
ferrets play and roughhouse with each other, they can nip and feel
little discomfort, but if they nip you with the same pressure, it can
hurt! Your ferret may not understand that human skin needs a more
tender touch. If your ferret nips you too hard, gently scruff him and
firmly say "NO!" Do not punish your ferret for biting you by
hitting or nose-thumping. In most cases, you would be punishing your
ferret for trying to play with you or get your attention. The goal is
to just let your ferret know that your skin is more tender than his.

Your ferretís thick skin can also make
it more difficult for your veterinarian to give vaccinations.
Sometimes vets think "small animal, small needle" but the
smaller needles may break off in the ferretís thick skin before
penetration. The ideal needle size seems to be 18 gauge. The skin of
ferrets is thickest around the neck and shoulders, so many vets prefer
to give ferrets shots in the hip.

Skin and Body
Temperature

In many mammals, the dermis layer of the
skin contains sweat glands that produce perspiration and allow rapid
cooling of the body. However, ferrets do not have sweat glands in
their skin, and quickly succumb to heat prostration, according to
Susan A. Brown, DVM. When a ferret gets hot, the blood vessels in the
dermis expand in an effort to dissipate the heat. If the ferret is
cold, the blood vessels constrict to try to conserve body heat. Ferret
skin is better adapted to adjust to cold situations than hot
situations.

When ferrets sleep, the blood vessels in
the dermis may constrict to conserve energy. The ferret may seem
slightly cooler than normal. When ferrets wake up, they often
"shiver." They are not shivering necessarily because they
are cold or scared, but because this is the skinís way of getting
blood flow back to the dermis for ferret waking mode.

Normal Skin

A healthy ferret should have healthy
skin with a smooth appearance and no flakes or scales. Skin color is
most often pinkish. Ferrets with lighter fur have more pink skin, and
darker ferrets may have greyish skin. Blow gently on your ferretís
fur to check out the color and condition of the skin.

Dehydration

The epidermis of a ferretís skin has
an effective water-holding capacity, which helps keep the skin
elastic. The epidermis water also maintains the body balance of fluid
and electrolytes. If the water content of the skin drops below a
certain level, the skin can develop small cracks. These cracks allow
infections to enter the body.

Dehydration, or lack of water in the
body, can be a serious health risk to your ferret. You can check for
dehydration by "tenting" your ferretís skin. This means
lightly pinching some skin and pulling upward to form a small tent.
When you let go, the skin should return to the body almost
immediately. If it takes longer than 2 seconds for the tent to
collapse, the ferret is dehydrated. Administer Pedialyte or some form
of fluid electrolyte. In cases of severe dehydration, a veterinarian
may have to administer fluid. To prevent dehydration, make sure your
ferret does not get overheated, and always provide a constant supply
of clean, fresh water. Do not add supplements to ferretís water, as
this may reduce water intake.

My Ferret is Blue! (or
Purple! or Yellow! or Orange!)

A ferretís skin is not always pinkish-grey.
One common shock to ferret owners is when the skin appears to be blue
or purple. In most cases, this is not bruising; in ferrets with darker
fur, it is often a sign of new hair growth. During coat changes in
spring and fall, the skin may appear blue immediately before the new
coat emerges. Blue or purple skin is most apparent in ferrets who have
lost their hair due to disease or surgery. Donít worry, new fur will
appear in a few days!

During the breeding season, whole males
(and sometimes females) increase production of sebum. This sebum may
turn the skin yellowish or orange as the oils discolor the undercoat.
Orange or reddish-brown patches or scaling on a neutered ferret is
also usually due to dried sebaceous secretions, and can be removed
easily with bathing. However, if these discolorations return quickly
(within a week or two), you might want to further investigate why your
neutered ferret is overproducing sebum. One common cause is the
presence of an adrenal tumor. Adrenal tumors often cause a hormonal
change that can result in sebum overproduction.

Balding Ferrets

Ferrets commonly have thinning hair
during fall and spring coat changes. At this time, you may see more
skin through the fur. However, if your ferret has bald spots that donít
seem related to seasonal coat changes, you should suspect adrenal
problems. In particular, balding at the base of the tail, on the rump,
or on the tail means a high probability of adrenal tumors. Ferrets
with adrenal tumors may also bald on their necks or tops of their
heads. This balding should not be treated with topical medications or
vitamin supplements. The source of the problem is most likely to be an
adrenal tumor. Your ferret can be ultrasounded to find the tumor, or a
blood test can be conducted (the University of Tennessee adrenal
panel). Surgery is the best option.

Dry Skin

If your ferretís skin has flakes or
white powder on it, the skin is too dry. The two most frequent causes
of dry skin are poor nutrition and bathing too often. A ferret on a
nutritious diet should be eating enough fats to keep the skin in good
condition. Skin and coat condition can also be aided by fatty-acid
supplements such as Linatone or Ferretone. Do not overfeed your ferret
any sort of fatty-acid or vitamin supplements. These supplements are
often extremely high in Vitamin A content, and overdoses of Vitamin A
can lead to toxic conditions that make skin disorders even worse
(itching, flaking, and scaliness). Keep your fatty acid supplements to
a few drops, and carefully watch your vitamin supplements such that
they do not exceed 500 IU of Vitamin A per day.

Bathing is also a prime culprit for dry
skin. Ferrets, like cats, do not require routine bathing. According to
Susan A. Brown, DVM, frequent bathing strips the skin of essential
oils and produces severe itching. Dr. Brown recommends bathing with a
mild cat or ferret shampoo no more frequently than once a month, and
only if the owner feels the bath is absolutely necessary. I bathe my
ferrets twice each year, or when necessary (such as after a nice romp
through the fireplace ashes or after digging up a houseplant). Donít
bathe ferrets with human shampoos (especially dandruff shampoos).
Kitten or ferret shampoos have the appropriate ph-balance for ferret
fur; other shampoos can cause skin disorders. Show ferrets or breeding
ferrets may need to be bathed more frequently than every few months,
but keep in mind that the more frequent the bathing, the worse odor
can get. Each time the soap strips the skin of its oils, the ferretís
skin responds by overproducing sebum to compensate for dryness. Sebum
is what causes body odor in ferrets. It seems odd, but the less you
bathe ferrets, the better they smell! Remember to also check your
environmentĖdry air can also cause dry skin.

Itchy Skin

Your ferret may have itchy skin even if
the skin is not dry. Itchy skin can come from parasites, nutritional
disorders, allergic reactions, or diseases. Ferrets often leap awake
from a deep sleep and scratch wildly. It is normal for ferrets to
scratch themselves, particularly after waking up or during spring and
fall shedding periods. However, constant scratching that persists for
more than 48 hours may indicate other problems.

Skin Parasites

Fleas are a common culprit, especially
if you have other pets or allow your ferret to go outside. If there
are reddish-brown or black specks on the skin, your ferret may have
fleas. Wash your ferret with a kitten-safe flea shampoo and eliminate
fleas from the environment. Flea sprays and powders may irritate
ferret skin and cause respiratory problems. A better solution is a
monthly drop between the shoulders (Frontline is most safe for
ferrets). Remember that flea repellents can cause skin irritation in
some cases, so check your ferret carefully. Never use a flea collar on
your ferret, as they have toxic effects on the skin of ferrets.

Mosquito bites can also cause itching,
and are especially dangerous because they can give your ferrets
heartworm and other diseases. Avoid exposing your ferrets to mosquitos,
and administer heartworm preventive if there is a possibility your
ferret could be bitten. Do not spray your ferret with mosquito
repellent; ferret skin will absorb the poisons and transmit them
throughout the body.

Ticks are another skin parasite.
Although the bites do not always itch, they can be painful and get
infected. Grasp a tick with tweezers as close to the mouth parts as
possible and pull gently. Make sure the mouth parts are not left in
the ferret skin. Disinfect the ferretís skin with soap and water or
alcohol after tick removal. Never dip a ferret!

Nutritional Disorders
and Skin Problems

Nutritional disorders can also cause
itchy skin. Lack of fats and fatty acids in the diet, as mentioned
previously, are the primary culprit. Lack of proteins from meat
sources can also be a problem, as can overdoses of Vitamin A. Some
ferrets have chicken allergies that can cause skin swelling and
itchiness. Look for turkey, lamb, beef, or fish-based ferret foods
that have no other poultry products in them if your ferret has these
problems.

Skin Allergies

Many ferrets have sensitive skin, and
ferrets can suffer allergic reactions that cause itchy skin, hives,
rashes, or other skin reactions. Common allergens are in litter,
shampoo, laundry detergent, carpet freshener, floor cleaners, and
household chemicals. If a ferret comes into contact with an allergen,
the ferret may get hives or red blotches on the stomach. Litter
material is often a culprit. Make sure you donít use wood shavings,
and use litters that do not have added perfumes. Ferret shampoos
should be gentle and designed for small animals. Added perfumes to
shampoos can cause itchy skin. The laundry detergent you use to wash
your ferretís bedding should also be dye and fragrance free. Ferrets
also may come into contact with various household cleaners and
chemicals by walking on freshly cleaned surfaces. This contact may
also produce itchy skin or rashes, or severe irritation on the skin of
the feet.

Diseases Causing Skin
Problems

Diseases can also cause itching skin. A
ferret with severely itchy skin for no apparent reason is likely to
have adrenal problems. Itchy skin is often the first sign of adrenal
disease, even before more obvious signs are apparent (hair loss or
swollen vulva). If you have eliminated obvious causes of itching such
as nutrition, parasites, or allergies, and your ferret continues to
scratch all the time, you may wish to have your ferret ultrasounded to
check for adrenal tumors.

Tail Blackheads

Another common ferret skin ailment is
blackheads, usually appearing on the tail. Again, this is due to an
overproduction of sebum in the body. Usually these blackheads can be
cleared up by shampooing with anti-seborrheic shampoos (usually
available from your veterinarian). These special shampoos may contain
benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid, and are most effective when left
on the skin for several minutes before rinsing. This can be quite
challenging for a ferret! I usually scrub these shampoos into the tail
with a toothbrush, and then distract the ferret with Linatone while
the medications go to work. Tail blackheads do not seem to be as
common an indicator for adrenal disease as orange spots and itchiness
are.

Skin Tumors

Ferrets seem prone to skin tumors. The
most common type is the mast-cell tumor. These tumors appear as
hairless warts ranging in size from pinhead to a half-inch. They can
be either nodules or flat, and usually are skin-colored. These warts
may ulcerate (bleed, scab over, and heal) repeatedly. The ulceration
may occur because the ferret scratches the growth. Mast-cell tumors
may occur in singles or in clusters. According to Connie Orcutt, DVM,
most mast-cell tumors are benign. However, because they have a
tendency to spread, and because there is a chance they might not be
benign, do not adopt a wait-and-see attitude. Electrocautery or
surgical removal is advised, with surgery having a better success
rate. The surgery is minor and the ferret may require only a stitch or
two.

Sebaceous gland tumors are the second
most common type of skin tumor in ferrets. These tumors are usually
dark pink, spongy growths and can grow quickly. These tumors are more
common on older or female ferrets. Because these tumors can become
cancerous, surgical removal is the most effective solution. Another
common skin tumor is a hemangioma, which appears as a small blood
blister. Several of these blisters can be clustered together, or a
blister may appear by itself. Do not attempt to "pop" these
blisters. If the blood blister does not go away after several weeks,
have it surgically removed.

The most serious type of skin tumor is
the squamous cell carcinoma. Fortunately, these tumors are seen less
often in pet ferrets. These tumors are firm and thickened, and are
frequently ulcerated (open or bleeding). Surgically remove these
masses whenever possible. Squamous cell carcinomas are malignant and
can spread to other parts of the body, including internal organs.

Ringworm

Ferrets are highly susceptible to
ringworm. This fungal skin infection can be transmitted to an from
humans and other pets. Ringworm is marked by ring-shaped, reddened,
scaly, or blistery patches. Anti-fungal ointments must be prescribed
by a veterinarian, and may require applications for a month or two.

Testing for Skin
Diseases

Most skin disorders can be diagnosed
from their physical characteristics. However, veterinarians may prefer
to perform a skin biopsy, which is the removal of a small sample of
skin tissue for microscopic analysis. A biopsy can aid in the
diagnosis of a skin problem, and most importantly, can be used to more
definitively identify or exclude cancers.

First Aid for Skin

Minor animal bites or scratches can be
cleaned with hydrogen peroxide. You can then apply antibiotic
ointment, such as Neosporin. Ferrets do not tolerate bandaging, and
they may also lick off any ointment. More severe animal bites or deep
puncture wounds that penetrate the full skin thickness should be
cleaned with hydrogen peroxide, but no ointment should be applied.
Stop any serious bleeding by using direct pressure and a styptic
pencil or powder. Seek veterinary attention for deep puncture wounds
or serious bleeding. If your ferretís skin gets burned, rinse with
cool water, apply a cold compress, and follow with a light application
of antibiotic ointment or aloe vera gel. Whether the skin has been
scratched, cut, punctured, or burned, infection prevention is always
the goal when the skin has been compromised. If you donít see
noticeable improvement in one day or if the condition worsens, seek
medical attention for your ferret.

Conclusion

Your ferretís skin is an important
organ that should be checked frequently. The skin is a good indicator
of overall health, and any skin problems you see should be taken care
of immediately.